How to force a folder refresh in Google Drive on Windows and Mac
Google Drive for Desktop is the app that runs on your computer, giving you easy access to your folders and files through Windows Explorer or Finder on your Mac.
Sometimes you may come across a folder that doesn't match what you see on Google Drive on the web (maybe some files are missing). For some reason, the folder has not synced correctly. Using a secret menu, you can force a folder refresh to quickly re-sync this folder in Google Drive.
Below are the instructions on how to force Google Drive to resync a folder. If you cannot see the Google Drive folder at all, rather than just a folder being out of date, our Google Drive not showing guide walks through that specific problem.
How to force a folder refresh in Windows 11
Hold Shift and Right Click on the folder you want to refresh
Select Show More Options.
Select Refresh Folder.
Watch this video to see how to force a Google Drive folder refresh in Windows 11.
How to force a folder refresh in Windows 10
Hold Shift and Right Click on the folder you want to refresh.
Select Refresh Folder.
Watch this video to see how to force a Google Drive folder refresh in Windows 10.
How to force a folder refresh on macOS
Hold CMD and Right Click on the folder you want to refresh.
Select Refresh Folder.
Watch this video to see how to force a Google Drive folder refresh in macOS.
Google Drive for Desktop will now refresh the folder you have selected, and any missing files or discrepancies between what you see and what you see on Google Drive on the web will be corrected. If the file still does not reappear, someone may have moved or renamed it. How to find a missing file in Google Drive shows you how to check for it.
